No More Ecija PAGs - PNP

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija - A high-ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday that there are no more private armed groups (PAGs) operating in this province. Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban, acting director of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (PPO), said that based on the latest validation of the PNP, there has not been a single PAG operating in the province which could be identified with certain politicians. He said that the province may now be removed from the list of election hotspots in the country as PAGs, which may pose threats to the holding of an honest, orderly and peaceful elections in the province in 2013, have already been dismantled. "In our validation, it's zero," said Lukban, when asked if PAGs are still active in the province which could disrupt the peace and order in the province in the run-up to the 2013 polls. ..

Additional years in school 'illegal'

..MANILA -- Student activists hit Sunday the implementation of additional years in school, saying children and parents will be forced to spend for an education program without the approval of Congress. “There is no statute that states the different levels of formal education pursued by the K+12 program. Thus far, the levels of formal education remain to be elementary and secondary education under the Education Act of 1982. Nowhere does it speak of middle school or senior high school, as outlined in the K+12 program,” said lawyer Terry Ridon, national president of Kabataan party-list. The enabling legislation for K+12 has yet to be passed by Congress, prompting the group to question the legal basis behind the government’s push for the program. “What shall become of these schoolchildren if the K+12 program is rejected by Congress?” Ridon asked. The opening of classes on Monday will be marked by the pilot implementation of the K+12 with focus on changes to curriculum for Grade 1 and Grade 7. Grade 7 is what first year junior high school is referred to under the program. In preparation, teacher trainings for the Grade 1 and Grade 7 enhanced curriculum were conducted in different subject areas per region to develop teachers’ capacity for efficient implementation. “For 2012, there will be no additional years yet for high school. Also, there will be no additional cost to parents because education in a public school is free,” Department of Education (DepEd) communications director Tina Ganzon told Sun.Star. Ridon said the government should focus first on the shortage of facilities and teachers and infrastructure in the public education system as increasing the number of years of study will only stretch thinly the already limited funding of public schools. In Davao Region, the education department will start implementing the mother tongue-based multi-lingual education program on the first day of classes for Grades 1 to 3 pupils. The program, which is also being pushed under the K+12, allows teacher to give lectures in classes using their native tongue. DepEd-Davao Region Jenielito Atillo said through this, pupils will have a better understanding on the lessons being discussed in classes. The DepEd is set to welcome today, Monday, 21.49 million students in public schools, at least a million higher than last year’s actual enrolment of 20.48 million. Of expected enrollees this year, 5.76 million are secondary, 14 million are elementary, and 1.73 million are kindergarten, in over 45,000 public schools nationwide. (Virgil Lopez/Antonio L. Colina IV/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex) ..

Next Chief Justice must first submit waiver on bank deposits-JBC

..Candidates for the next Supreme Court chief justice are now required to submit a waiver on bank deposits, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) said Monday. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the Senate representative to the JBC, proposed the new application requirement which was unanimously agreed upon by the collegial body. “The body's approval of my motion is just being consistent to the general sentiment of the people during and after the tedious impeachment process: that is to set the highest bar for transparency and accountability among those who are in and those who wish to join government service,” Escudero said. Ex-chief justice Renato Corona was removed from office after he was found guilty by the impeachment court of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for untruthfully declaring his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. Escudero said aspirants who are from the government will be asked to provide their SALNs while those from the private sector will be required to submit their income tax returns from two previous years. This will allow the council to check if the applicants’ bank accounts are reflected in their SALNs or ITRs, the senator noted. “We just removed a CJ because of his deficient bank accounts, and the last thing we want is to choose another CJ whose bank accounts are not reflected in his SALN,” he added. Escudero said after today’s deliberation, the JBC will publish notices of vacancy and acceptance of application and nomination for the highest magistrate position. President Benigno Aquino III will appoint the next chief justice from the shortlist of the JBC. Under the existing JBC requirements, all court applicants must be Filipino citizens; possess proven competence, integrity, probity and independence and a member of the Philippine bar; at least 40 years old; and have served 15 years or more as a judge of a lower court or in the practice of law in the Philippines. Since Corona’s conviction, the names of Senator Franklin Drilon, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, and Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who is now the acting chief justice based on seniority, emerged as the probable new chief justice. However, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago told reporters Monday that De Lima and Morales should not accept the JBC nomination. "If they participated in the impeachment trial, it cannot be helped but raise doubts in the minds of the public that they were testifying so they can get rid of the incumbent and replace him. I'm afraid they have disqualified themselves morally from that vantage point," Santiago said. ..

Corona Clears His Desk

..MANILA, Philippines --- Ousted Chief Justice Renato C. Corona started clearing his desk in his office in the Supreme Court on Monday. In an impromptu speech, Corona asked the court's officials and employees to support his successor. He also urged them to continue his fight for the independence of the judiciary. Corona's staff members in his former office who occupy co-terminus positions were given 30 days to wind up. They will either resign or be absorbed in the same Office of the Chief Justice or transferred to other offices. While a retiring justice is given 30 days to wind up his work, it was not known if the same privilege will be given to Corona. Also yesterday, acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima inhibited themselves from deliberations by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on the selection of a new Chief Justice. By operation of law and until a permanent Chief Justice is appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III from among the nominees to be submitted by the JBC, Carpio becomes acting Chief Justice, acting chairman of the JBC, and acting chairman of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). The vacancy will be published in the newspapers on June 6, and the nominations or applications would be accepted by the JBC until June 18. The President has 90 days within which to appoint a replacement in any vacancy in the judiciary. Carpio presided over yesterday's JBC deliberation. But when the meeting started to touch on the position of Chief Justice, Carpio inhibited himself and turned over the acting chairmanship to De Lima. Carpio, together with four other most senior justices in the SC - Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., Teresista J. Leonardo de Castro, Arturo D. Brion, and Diosdado M. Peralta - are automatically nominated to the position of Chief Justice under JBC rules. When asked by a JBC member whether De Lima would apply for the Chief Justice post, the justice secretary answered in the negative. But De Lima said that she will decide whether to accept or decline if she is eventually nominated to the post. With De Lima's statement, she also inhibited herself in the discussion on the selection for the post of Chief Justice. The acting chairmanship of the JBC was turned over to retired Supreme Court Justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., the most senior member of the council. Aside from Carpio, De Lima, and Hermosisima, the other members of the JBC are Senator Francis Escudero, Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., retired CA Associate Justice Aurora Lagman, lawyer Jose V. Mejia who represents the academe, and lawyer Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa as representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). While the JBC was deliberating on the selection process for the post of Chief Justice, Corona arrived at the SC with his wife Cristina, and daughter Carla. Meanwhile, Escudero emphasized the need for the applicants to submit to the JBC a waiver on bank accounts, income tax returns (ITR), and opening of SALN. Escudero, the Senate's representative and ex-officio member of the JBC, said this proposal was unanimously approved by the collegial body as the search for the next Chief Justice commences. "The new requirement covers applicants and nominees from both the private and government sectors. The waiver includes bank deposits on local and foreign currencies and the opening of their SALNs and ITRs in favor of the JBC," Escudero said. On the other hand, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said that "I'll think about it when it gets there, if it gets there. Otherwise, everything is too premature," when Senate reporters asked her regarding reports that Malacañang has her and De Lima on its list for possible selection as the successor of Corona. The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, convicted Corona last week for failure to disclose in his annual SALN his actual income or the value of his properties. This developed after Senator Francis Pangilinan, a former JBC member, said there is an obvious need to institute reforms in the justice system and the first step is to make the selection process of candidates for the Chief Justice at the JBC. He said the JBC should take the lessons learned from the recently concluded impeachment process against Corona in implementing much needed reforms in the Judiciary. (With reports from Hannah L. Torregoza and Mario B. Casayuran) ..

Tarlac expands use of hi-tech health info system

TARLAC CITY, TARLAC—After the successful pilot test of a high-tech health information system called the Wireless Access for Health (WAH), the province of Tarlac is expanding its use to the entire province by end of the year. The Department of Health (DOH) and the Tarlac Provincial Health Office partnered with device chip manufacturer Qualcomm to expand the use of WAH to all its 38 health provincial clinics. The project makes Tarlac the first province in the country to have all its public health centers wirelessly interconnected to run its health information system. WAH, which is part of Qualcomm's global Wireless Reach Initiative, was initially run in four health centers of Tarlac City in 2009. It expanded to 21 clinics, serving over 1,500 patients a day. Last April, about 109,000 patient consultations were made via the system, making healthcare provisioning easier for the province. The WAH project builds on the existing Philippine Field Health Service Information System (PHSIS), which is the government's standard paper-based method for health records management for all its public health offices. PHSIS uses the WAH system to electronically record patient records and wirelessly transfer them to a central database using the 3G network. WAH also incorporates the Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS) developed by the University of the Philippines. CHITS is a set of procedures in recording and storing patient health database. Along with the expansion of the system, the provincial government will also experiment on using two wireless applications, the Mobile Midwife and SPASMS (Synchronized Patient Alert via SMS). The latter allows medical health workers to take patient records electronically using their smartphones, tablet PCs, or laptops. The data can then be sent to the CHITS database. Meanwhile, SPASMS is an automated, SMS-based alert system that sends patients information from basic health tips to medical health news. “The WAH initiative is a means to deliver quality health services to clients, aid health workers and local and national governments by promoting data-driven planning and sound decision-making,” said Tarlac Provincial Health Office Head Dr. Ricardo P. Ramos. The program also helps local leaders and health workers in identifying and preventing disease outbreaks through preventive care, strategic health promotions and advocacy campaigns, added Ramos. Qualcomm Philippines Director of Business Development Mantosh Malhotra noted that healthcare is one of the priority projects of the Philippine government and as such, must use technology to provide services to Filipinos. “WAH demonstrates the extraordinary benefits that 3G wireless connectivity can bring to underserved communities, particularly in the area of wireless health care. We hope that what has been achieved so far will encourage the expansion of this innovative network to benefit Filipinos,” Malhotra said. ***

Aquino may appoint outsider to chief justice post

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III on Friday expressed readiness to break the tradition and appoint an outsider to the highest post in the judiciary. "If I remember the Constitution correctly, it is stated there that the Judicial and Bar Council will give me a list and that’s where I will choose but there is no injunction there that limits it to current members of the Supreme Court," Aquino said in an interview during the First River Summit in Iloilo City. The President said he has his utmost regard to the usual practice in appointing a chief justice but he also wanted reform in the judiciary. "Yung tradition is a good consideration. But what is important is the efficiency of the institution and serving and addressing our people’s need," he said. He expressed hesitation on selecting the next chief justice from the incumbent associate justices since most of them are still observing a Supreme Court resolution in 1989 that prohibited the disclosure of SALNs of justices and judges. Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, a perceived Aquino ally, sat as acting Chief Justice on Wednesday after the ouster of Renato Corona by the Senate impeachment court. On the same day, the Supreme Court approved the public disclosure of assets statements of judges and justices, for 2011 but guidelines for such release will have to be discussed in a special en banc session on June 13. He said all public officials should declare their SALN to the public in accordance with the 1987 Constitution. The President said "there is a very distinct possibility" that the next chief justice can come from the outside. The names of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares came out as among those considered for the post. Sought for comment, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she "will cross the bridge" only after the opportunity to be appointed will be presented. "Let the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council) do the process first," she told reporters. If she will accept any nomination to be the next top magistrate, de Lima must inhibit in the deliberations of the JBC being a member of the vetting body. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima believes that Henares is qualified for the chief justice position, but stressed that he will not be the one nominating her to the JBC. “I have such high regard for her. I think if given the opportunity, she’ll do a great job,” he said in a media briefing on Friday. Purisima cited that Henares is not only a lawyer but a certified public accountant (CPA) and has worked both in the government and the private sector. Aquino has 90 days to choose who will replace former Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was found guilty of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution during the five-month long impeachment trial for failure to fully disclose assets in his SALN. The JBC, which is a constitutional body tasked to screen and submit nominees for vacant judicial post to the President, will hold a special session on Monday. Traditionally, the President can only appoint judges and justices from the short list provided by the JBC. (Jill Beltran/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

Comelec-NGO network works for IP-inclusive polls

First, the detainees. Then, people with disabilities. Now, indigenous peoples. The Commission on Elections is getting indigenous peoples (IPs) who are qualified voters to register and vote in next year's midterm elections. The continuing general voter registration will end on Oct. 31. Comelec liasion officer Tony Villasor said the poll body is planning to hold special IP registrations from June to August in selected areas in Luzon such as Tarlac, Zambales and Mindoro, and later in General Santos City and the Davao areas in Mindanao and in Palawan. IPs account for roughly 12 percent of the country's 100 million population and are spread over 110 ethnic groups around the country. But government has no data on how many are of voting age. "We have decided to help them (IPs) because if empowered, they can be a voice to reckon with in the Philippines," said Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, the Comelec's focal person in making the 2013 elections IP-inclusive. Comelec is part of the Inter-agency and Nongovernmental Organization Network on Empowering Indigenous Peoples, a partnership of other government institutions, NGOs and peoples organizations created in January to help IPs exercise their right of suffrage. The network also consists of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Ateneo School of Government, Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER), Katribu party-list, Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Lawyers League for Liberty (Libertas), Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Consultative Group on Indigenous Peoples. In 2010, the Comelec provided a mechanism that enabled detainees to register and vote. It held a special registration for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in July last week. Another round of special registration for PWDs has been ongoing since March. Sarmiento is also the focal person for these sectors. The lack of legal documents such as birth certificates and government-issued identification cards has been identified as among the biggest hindrances to getting the IPs to register as voters. Other problems include the distance to polling precincts, lack of basic literacy, a different political system and lack of voter education. "If you ask them, they would say I was born when the moon was full. If you ask them what your name is, they would say my name is Medicol because that is what they hear," Sarmiento said. In the Aeta communities in Zambales, some are simply named Jefferson or Abraham because of the long influence of U.S.naval base in the area, Sarmiento adds. In Resolution 9427 issued on May 17, however, IPs will be allowed to register even without identification cards or birth certificates. According to the resolution, an IP may be identified under oath before the election officer using an affidavit of identification by any registered voter of the precinct or any of his or her relatives up to the fourth degree. Comelec is also allowing allowed a certificate of confirmation issued by the NCIP as a valid form of identification. IPs who are already registered can also update their registration records and indicate the community to which they belong. The inter-agency network is also working out a voter education program for first-time IP voters based on a framework they can relate with. Villasor said IP voters should be educated based on issues close to their heart such as ancestral domain and self-determination. He said IPs should learn "that they have a right and this election has an effect in (their) lives." Government and civil society acknowledge that IP voters are vulnerable to harassment and exploitation by politicians. Among the documented cases of exploitation are those of the Mangyans in Oriental Mindoro. A group of lawyers and election officers who visited a Mangyan Reservation Area in Oriental Mindoro, home to around seven Mangyan tribes, has confirmed the "hamletting" cases in previous elections. The Mangyansvoters were rounded up and confined in a compound to coerce them to vote in favor of certain candidates. Mangyan tribes include the Alangan, Iraya, Tadyawan, Tau-buwig, Bangun, Buhid and the Hanunuo.

3 Chinese fugitives get life for drugs

MANILA, Philippines - Three Chinese detainees who escaped from the Parañaque City Jail on Dec. 10, 2011 were tried in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment last week for possessing more than P2 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. City regional trial court Judge Danilo Suarez issued warrants for authorities to arrest Zong Long (Sonny Long), Cheung Wai Leung and Chan Tong Lou and detain them at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The court might also send a copy of the decision to the Chinese embassy. A court employee told The STAR that the warrant would help authorities recapture the fugitives if they are still in the country. Suarez issued a hold departure order on Dec. 13, 2011 to prevent the Chinese from leaving the Philippines. A copy of the HDO was given to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration. The three men were arrested in a sting operation in Better Living Subdivision in February 2011. Zong and Cheung were also separately charged for selling P20 million worth of shabu to undercover cops of the National Capital Region Police Office. The three pleaded not guilty a month after their arrest. While the trial was pending, they escaped from prison last December with the alleged help of their guard, Jail Officer 1 Richard Sillatoc. Sillatoc, who was criminally charged before the Parañaque prosecutor’s office, no longer reported for work after the escape and remains at large. He was caught on surveillance video helping them escape. Sillatoc’s fellow jail guards claimed he fed them bulalo (beef bone marrow soup) and rice that made them vomit. The three inmates were detained at the Parañaque jail’s fourth floor and Sillatoc allegedly helped them bypass guards assigned at each floor until they reached the guards’ barracks, where they changed clothes, and escaped through the jail’s main gate. A few days after the jailbreak, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – then headed by Rosendo Dial – offered P50,000 for the recapture of each of the fugitives. - By Aie Balagtas See

Filipino discovers cure for dreaded banana diseases

For years, scientists and agriculturists all over the world have been working on developing a cure for Moko and Panama Disease —fungal and bacterial infections that could potentially wipe out the world's banana plantations. Moko disease is a virulent bacterial infection that causes the fruits to ripen prematurely and kills infected plants in just a few weeks. Panama disease or fusarium wilt, on the other hand, is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxyforumcubense and is so damaging that it single-handedly destroyed the Malaysian banana industry only 3 years after it was discovered. These diseases are grave concerns for the Philippines: we are the 3rd largest banana exporting nation in the world, contributing around 12% of global banana exports. It’s a P35 billion industry that contributes almost P400 million in local taxes alone. Traditional treatments: ineffective The traditional method of treating Panama and Moko disease has been to treat the infected plantation with insecticides, then chop and burn the infected crops. The problem with this method is that it doesn’t kill the spores that are already in the soil, and it doesn’t treat the healthy banana offshoots that can serve as carriers for the diseases. Thus, the diseases have a chance to recur and spread even further throughout plantation until the crops are completely wiped out. This has been the way to treat Panama and Moko disease until recently, when one Filipino scientist —after two whole years of research and testing— claims to have developed a cure that works for both diseases. Dr.Angelito Dela Cruz is a plant pathologist, horticulturist, and nematologist with an impressive resume. He started his career at UPLB where he taught and worked as a researcher for 15 years and has worked for several major multinational plantations for almost 20 years. He’s now the VP for Technical services atDelfiAgriventures, a Filipino company that develops and produces agricultural, aquaculture, and environmental products. Dr. Dela Cruz's probiotic treatment What makes Dr.Dela Cruz’s treatment system unique is that it’s not a drug in the traditional sense. When farmers encounter plant pests, their first response would be to kill it by using pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics. However, Dr. Dela Cruz claims that his treatment system works more like a vaccine than an antibiotic: it helps the plant heal itself. The treatment system works a lot like how probiotic drinks —such as Yakult, that classic kids' favorite— work in humans. The idea is is to introduce "good bacteria", which help crowd out and prevent the spread of "bad bacteria". The Moko-Panama disease treatment system is administered by first injecting the affected plants and surrounding plants with a proprietary clay mineral extract. The minerals in this solution (iron and other trace elements) have natural disinfectant properties that kill bacteria and fungi. The next step is to treat the soil with the same clay mineral extract. Not only will this kill the fungi and the bacteria in the soil, it also conditions the soil by neutralizing the soil pH or soil acidity. By making the soil pH neutral, it makes it easier for the plants to absorb nutrients. When the infected plants absorb nutrient better, they become healthier and better at fighting off the infection. Conditioning the soil also prepares the plants for the next step of the treatment process. When the soil is in good condition (neutral pH, high oxygen levels, rich in minerals), it encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms. These microorganisms can inhibit the growth of Fusariumoxyforumcubense, eventually wiping them out. To speed up this process, the soil is then inoculated the Panama disease’s natural enemy, Trichodermaharzlanum, and other beneficial microorganisms. Limitations and further studies Dela Cruz's system does have its limits, however: it can’t save moderate to severe cases of Moko and Panama disease. Dr.Dela Cruz explains, “In those stages, the vascular system of the plant has been damaged beyond repair. But you still have to inject the treatment in those cases to save the buffer plants and prevent the spread of infection. This way if the farmer does need to chop down several banana trees, he only needs to get rid of the dead ones. He’ll still have some production from the healthy buffer plants and those that have been cured.” No synthetic chemicals are used as all the materials used for this treatment system come from natural sources. The plants and soil come out healthier after treatment. And there’s no risk of contaminating the bananas with harmful pesticides. “The products used in this treatment system are so safe, you can ingest it and not suffer any ill effects,” claims Mr. Roberto Del Fierro, President of DelfiAgriventures. “It was really important for us for this system to be food-grade safe because it touches our food. We also want the farmers that implement this in their farms to feel safe and not have to worry about their health.” Dela Cruz's Moko-Panama disease treatment system has been tested and proven to be effective by studies with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in small and large banana plantations in 2011. It has since been adopted by the DA as the standard for treating Panama and Moko disease. — TJD

5 Governors Back Peace Negotiations

JOLO, Sulu - Governors of the five provinces under the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has expressed their full support to the ongoing peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The governors issued the statement after attending the formal exploratory talks held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from May 28 to 30, where they form a group of observers to the negotiation process between the GPH and the MILF. Tan, who served as focal person of the ARMM governors, said that among the governors in attendance were Maguindanao Governor Esmael ''Toto'' Mangudadatu, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, and Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali. Tan said the ARMM governors wanted a meaningful autonomy under the Constitution that is being pursued by the Philippine government and the MILF. Tan, however, reminded the GPH and MILF panels that a plebiscite should be held before the signing of any peace accord in order to seek the people's consent if they wanted to join the new autonomous region or not.

PNP readying plan to arrest Ecleo in Surigao stronghold

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome yesterday admitted that ousted Dinagat Islands congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr. is in his home in Surigao del Norte, the stronghold of his religious cult. Bartolome said the PNP is drafting a plan to arrest Ecleo, convicted for the 2002 killing of his wife Alona and who has been dropped from the roster of the House of Representatives after the Supreme Court upheld his Sandiganbayan conviction on at least three cases of violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Bartolome said the plan to arrest Ecleo includes measures that would prevent any bloodshed, similar to the violent incident on June 18, 2002 when a policeman and 16 cult members were killed in a three-hour siege on the Ecleo stronghold. The bloody gun battle took place after some 2,000 members of Ecleo’s Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) barricaded his hilltop mansion to prevent police from arresting him for his wife’s killing. Ecleo subsequently surrendered, and in 2004, posted P1-million bond to seek treatment for a heart ailment. Bartolome said the plan will be based on police standard operating procedures. Ecleo founded the PBMA and its members look up to him as their “supreme president” or “supremo.” According to reports, the group has five million members around the country. Ecleo is one of the high-profile fugitives, for whom authorities have put up bounties for their arrest. Bartolome said the PNP has recommended an additional P300,000 reward each for the arrest of Ecleo, former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother Coron, Palawan Mayor Mario Reyes. The Reyes’ brothers, accused of masterminding the killing of broadcaster and environment advocate Gerry Ortega in January 2011, have a price of P1.55 million on their heads, while Ecleo has P150,000. Bartolome said the government is offering P1-million bounty for the arrest of former military general Jovito Palparan, accused of kidnapping and torturing UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno in 2006. - By Cecille Suerte Felipe

Vietnam wins Philippines rice deal

Ha Noi (Viet Nam News/ANN) - Vietnam has been selected to supply 100,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines because its price is much lower than its competitor Thailand, according to Vietnam News Agency However, the Philippines National Food Authority was still awaiting for government approval to finalise the deal. Shipments were expected to arrive before the lean months from July. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnamese businesses signed commercial contracts to ship 500,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines this year. The 100,000 tonnes was part of 120,000 tonnes allotted to the authority, while private traders and farmer groups will import the other 380,000 tonnes. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam shipped 3 million tonnes of rice in the past five months to earn US$1.4 billion. During this period, rice exports to China increased fourfold in volume and value, making it Vietnam's largest rice consumer. The ministry said it expected 6.25 million tonnes of rice to be shipped abroad this year, 16 per cent more than its previous 5.4 million tonnes. To meet the target, the ministry has urged local rice businesses to expand their outlets instead of focusing on traditional markets. Africa, for example, had offered substantial growth, with major markets such as the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Senegal consuming large amounts of Vietnamese medium-grade rice, it said. To better streamline the country's rice export, the ministry also recommended restricting the number of domestic rice businesses who qualified to export to less than 100. According to the ministry, the country exported 7 million tonnes of rice yearly, with more than 200 businesses taking part in the activity. This had caused unhealthy internal competition which had a negative impact on the country's export rice quality and price.

Malacanang: President is not hiding anything

MALACANANG said Sunday that President Benigno Aquino III is not hiding anything by refusing to sign waiver on his bank accounts. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said everything the public should know is stated in the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of the President and calls for waiver signing are mere “gimmickry.” The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has criticized the President for rejecting to sign a waiver on his accounts and assets, saying he has broken his campaign promise. The group said Aquino should be the first one to sign it since his administration strongly pushes for transparency. Valte insisted that the President has no dollar accounts. She added that the waiver has no clear restrictions on who should scrutinize one’s bank accounts. “Is this a waiver in favor of everybody?...If you look at the waiver in the SALN, it’s the correct waiver in favor of the correct authorities… The Ombudsman has enough powers…,” she said. She also dismissed that the President’s move is a “double standard.” “It’s just plain gimmickry, which is obvious from what we have seen with what the former Chief Justice did. The waiver was asked from him from the very start. We waited. We already had the information, the SALN was released, the bank records were released because of the PSBank president and then in the end he chooses to sign a waiver,” she said. President Aquino earlier denied signing a waiver, expressing fears that his accounts would be opened to all people even unscrupulous ones. Valte assured that there will be no witch hunt in SALN waivers of political enemies of Aquino after the ouster of the Chief Justice. “No, there will be none. That presupposes that the Ombudsman is not independent…The Ombudsman has demonstrated her independence and it’s also unfair to her to say that she is being used by the executive or the legislative which is not the case,” she said. Valte also laughed off the statement of Defense lawyer Jose “Judd” Roy III that former Chief Justice Renato Corona has set a high standard for transparency for signing the waiver. She said the former chief magistrate was only compelled, that was why he signed the waiver. “Atty. Roy is making me laugh on a Sunday …Set a high standard for transparency when, in fact, we did not see his SALN until the impeachment court compelled the production of the SALN. And, obviously, he admitted to not declaring how many millions of pesos in his SALN -- $2.4 million and then P80 million in his SALN,” she said. She, meanwhile, advised Corona to get a refresher course from the Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares on taxation law following reports that he intends to go back to teaching law. “Perhaps, if it’s taxation law then maybe he can for a refresher course from Commissioner Henares because on the stand he was saying na hindi daw po niya alam ‘yung difference between an asset and a debit and a credit, e that’s basic in taxation. So perhaps, he should give Commissioner Henares a ring for a refresher course,” Valte said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex

Philippines short by 132,000 teachers

CEBU CITY – Changes in line with a longer basic education program, as well as familiar problems like a lack of rooms, await public school students as the new school year opens today, Monday. All teachers handling Grade 1 and Grade 7 were trained under Oplan Balik Eskwela for the K-12 curriculum, a Department of Education (DepEd) official said. This week, their target is to train also the private school teachers, said Dr. Marcial Degamo, chief of the DepEd-Central Visayas quality assurance and accountability division. In Cebu City, another DepEd official said that instructional materials for Grade 1 and Grade 7 still have to be reproduced. The teachers finished their training just last Friday. These instructional materials won’t be ready in time for the opening of classes Monday. 21M nationwide The school population is estimated to increase by two percent. DepEd-Central Visayas Information Officer Lea Apao said they may come up with the exact number of enrollees in both public and private schools later this week. “We are really busy because of the mass training for Grade 1 teachers in connection with the K-12 curriculum,” Apao said. Raul Constantino, media liaison officer of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said they have no figures on the number of pupils and students in elementary and high school for Cebu this year. But Constantino said that in the entire country, there are 21.76 million students expected to go to 45,927 public schools from kindergarten to fourth year high school. “We believe that the teachers are already prepared for this school year despite the challenge of the K-12. It’s the DepEd that needs to be prepared and it’s now time for the department to resolve issues like shortages of teachers, classrooms and toilets,” Constantino said. 48,000 classrooms Constantino said that based on TDC records, the country is short by 132,564 teachers, 48,802 classrooms and 106,604 toilets, which should be addressed immediately if the government wants to improve the quality of education. Although the lack of classrooms and teachers is a perennial problem, Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud said they are finding ways to solve these with the help of the City Government. She admitted, however, that there are some public schools in the city that will still implement double shifts because of the lack of classrooms. Some night high schools will start their classes in the daytime, including Luz, Basak Community and Oprra Night High Schools. The city schools division superintendent also promised to finish the reproduction of teaching modules in the next few days. She already instructed her nine division and 16 district supervisors to monitor the problems that may crop up on the first day of classes. Bigger classes Angtud expects an increase of more than two percent in the number of students in the public elementary and high schools in the city. The increase has averaged two percent each year, but may go up further because of an increase in the tuition in some private schools, she explained. Last school year, there were 104,052 enrolled in the city’s public elementary and 49,224 in the public high school while 18,574 enrolled in the night high school. With a two-percent increase, around 175,300 students will go back to Cebu City schools Monday. In the region, more than 1.5 million students were enrolled in public schools last school year, which would mean that some 1.53 million students across the region will start the new school year, if the projected increase is met. Angtud said late enrollees will still be entertained at the principal’s office in the next three days and at the division’s office if they fail to enroll this week. Traffic The City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) has also modified the schedule of its traffic enforcers to help the students cross the streets. Citom Executive Director Rafael Yap said that aside from manning traffic in the streets, they will also focus on schools as the classes open Monday. Mayor Michael Rama asked the police department to be more visible, particularly near schools. “Dili magmika, more on police visibility gyud. Creativity ra gyud na, dili man mahimo nga magsige lang sila ug huna-huna nga kuwang ang pulis sa syudad (We need creative solutions, instead of always thinking that we don’t have enough police personnel),” Rama said. Rama said he’ll remind the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council to monitor the peace and order in the city as the new school year opens. Frat watch A cluster of mobile patrol groups will be stationed in different night high schools in Cebu City to protect students, an official said. “We already identified areas near schools that need police visibility for students having classes at night,” said City Intelligence Branch Chief Romeo Santander, who estimated that almost 150 police personnel will be deployed at the start of classes. He said they will also monitor fraternities, who are likely to recruit members at the opening of each school year. “There are different types of recruitment, and during the initiation of their recruits, that may be the time that trouble will start, especially among rivals,” explained Santander. He urged teachers to be there for the students and guide them away from fraternity recruiters. In Cebu City, two police officers each will be temporarily fielded to each school. Superintendent Arnel Banzon of the Cebu City Police Office said the lack of police personnel will be augmented with the assistance of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams. Ports and terminals have also been checked as students from the provinces trooped back to the city for the class opening. (ETB/EOB/JBT/Sun.Star Cebu)

PAL Offers All-In Promo Rates

.. MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) is pushing for fare-pricing transparency via its the first no-hidden charges, all-in low-fare promo for all domestic and selected international destinations. One-way tickets from Manila to any PAL point in Luzon have been slashed to P1,376; to Visayas at P1,443; and to Mindanao at P2,003. All-in fares from any point in Luzon to Manila are going for P1,393; from Visayas to Manila at P1,460 and from Mindanao to Manila at P2,020. Round-trip tickets meanwhile to selected international destinations were likewise reduced - Manila to Bali - $376; Bangkok - $319; Beijing - $380; New Delhi - $718; Fukuoka - $546; Guam - $396; Ho Chi Minh - $300; Hong Kong, Macau & Taipei - $240; Jakarta - $342; Melbourne - $837; Nagoya - $565; Osaka - $525; Shanghai - $370; Singapore $305; Sydney - $856; Tokyo - $566; Xiamen - $270; and Cebu-Tokyo $670. Special fares for US and Canada flights are also available. The promo tickets are all for economy class and must be used between June 13 and September 30, 2012, except those for Guam which are valid between August 16, 2012 and December 15, 2012. The promo fares are inclusive of government taxes, fees and surcharges except ticketing service and terminal fees. The promo tickets may be bought from May 18 until May 22, 2012 at any PAL ticket office, the PAL website or any PAL accredited travel agent. ..

Cebu Lists 29 Millionaire Mayors

. CEBU, Philippines - Some 29 mayors and five vice-mayors in Cebu province have a net worth in the millions of pesos based on their 2011 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), according to a list released by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas. Among the millionaire mayors in the province are Maria Luisa Loot of Daanbantayan with P108.696 million, followed by Democrito Diamante of Tuburan with P54.73 million, Antonio Canoy of San Fernando with P47.209 million, Joel Quiño of Compostela with P45.508 million, and Teresa Alegado of Consolacion with P45.17 million. Mayors whose net worth were listed below P20 million were Nicepuro Apura of Carcar City with P16.5 million; Daisy Creus of Malabuyoc with P15.9 million; Emelita Guisadio of Alegria with P15.8 million; Augustus Caesar Moreno of Aloguinsan, P15.8 million; Salvador Dela Fuente of Madredejos with P14.4 million; and Raymond Joseph Calderon of Samboan with P13.2 million. .

British Queen cites Philippine official

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Philippines' former Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo received from United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth II the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contribution to the development of UK-Philippines relations for over four decades. British Ambassador Stephen Lillie recently hosted a dinner for De Ocampo, now recognized as an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, according to a news release from the British Embassy in Manila. The Order of the British Empire recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service, and work with charitable and welfare organisations of all kinds, the embassy said. Lillie acknowledged De Ocampo as "a tireless and influential advocate for friendship, business and co-operation between our two island nations." He also paid tribute to De Ocampo's "unstinting and unpaid service" as chairman of the British Alumni Association (BAA) in the Philippines, which he has led for more than 12 years. "This has significantly raised the reputation and prestige of the UK in the Philippines," Lillie said. For his part, De Ocampo said the recognition "is not only an immeasurably precious one to me for my lifetime but a treasure for my family to have and keep and to pass on to the next generations."

Graft case stops river clearing; mayor fears more floods in Cebu City

RAINS have started to pour and Cebu City streets are, again, flooded. But as much as the Cebu City Government wants to push through with the clearing operations within the three-meter easement along rivers, Mayor Michael Rama said an anti-graft case is preventing the project’s continuation. A group of informal settlers filed a graft complaint against the mayor and some City Hall officials involved in the clearing of Mahiga Creek. The case is pending before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas. Rama said that Alvin Santillana of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and Harold Alcontin of the Management Information and Computer System (Mics) received threats due to the clearing operations. Rama directed barangay officials to help. He cited Barangay Talamban officials who became aware of the risk of allowing informal settlers to reside near rivers when two men perished after the collapse of a retaining wall in Casa del Rio subdivision. He said barangay officials could have prevented the tragedy had they prevented people from living near the river. Rama also blamed the annual budget cut for the flood problem, saying the P500 million he proposed for drainage projects was reduced to P100 million in the 2012 budget. The mayor assured, though, that the desilting of rivers continues.

Davao mayor says no to daily cockfighting

A PETITION to have daily cockfights in the city does not sit well with Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio. The City Council passed on first reading, in Tuesday's regular session, the request of cockpit owners/operators to amend the city's Revenue Code specifically on the provisions that restrict the schedules of cockfights. In a text message to Sun.Star Davao, Duterte-Carpio said she is not buying the group's excuse that holding cockfights here every day will help the city's finances. "Gambling is addictive and it is a bad idea to feed their addiction everyday, which will make them lose more money, which in turn, is detrimental to their personal lives," Duterte-Carpio said. The petition was signed by representatives of city's major cockpits including Robert D. Pichon Sr., Buhangin Gallera; Abdulla Aquino, Aquino Gallera; Sammy Uy, Matina Gallera; Eugenio D. Derequito, Toril Gallera, and representatives of Mintal and Calinan Gallera. In a letter to the City Council, one of their contentions in their request is that the daily cockfights will further improve the city's entertainment scene. It will also be a means for the City Government to earn more revenues through taxes. The mayor said the city has no problem finding income-generating measure. "It is as if pataob na ang city natin (the city is bankrupt). We are good with revenue and paying our debts," the mayor said. Duterte-Carpio said even if the City Council passes an ordinance granting the request of the group, with the power vested on her by the law, she said she will veto such ordinance. "Gambling is gambling, whether or not it is legal or illegal. It has the same deleterious effects on an addict," the mayor lamented. She expressed hopes that there are still many councilors who just like her, have the same sentiment toward the request of cockpits owners/operators. At present, cockpits are being held every day in some major cities across the country but for the mayor, this is the essence of the autonomy of all local government units (LGUs) one is not obliged to follow what other LGUs are doing.

Dam Alert Raised As Storm Nears

..Communities in Quezon City, Valenzuela and Malabon were alerted yesterday to the possible overflow of the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Oyie Pagulayan said the water level in La Mesa was at 79.76 meters as of 1 p.m. on Saturday, 0.3 meters below the normal level of 80.15 meters. The warning was issued as tropical storm Ambo, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall, approached Northern Luzon. Hundreds of travelers were stranded in Bicol and the Visayas and flights were cancelled as the storm neared. "If we consider the forecast rainfall of the (PAGASA) Forecasting Division, we may likely reach the dam's overflowing level," Pagulayan said noting the forecast rainfall at 15-25 mm per hour within the diameter of Ambo, is considered heavy rains. Reports cited that authorities of the La Mesa already advised the concerned local government units (LGUs) to warn residents that will be directly affected by the flow of excess water to be on alert for possible flash floods. Communities that may likely be affected by flooding are Fairview, Forest Hills, Quirino Highway, Papri, Goodwill, Sta. Quiteria, and San Bartolome in Quezon City, Barangay Ligon along North Luzon Expressway in Valenzuela and Malabon. Pagulayan also noted that one spillway gate of Magat Dam in Isabela was opened Friday night in anticipation of heavy rainfall. As of yesterday afternoon, the level in Magat was 191.88 meters. The gate was opened one meter, releasing 228 cubic meters of water per second, she said. The normal level of Magat is at 193 meters. One gate of Binga Dam in Benguet was also partially opened to let out water. "The dam's water level was 572.46 meters as of 1 p.m. Saturday," Pagulayan said. She pointed out that the water released from Binga will cascade down to the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, whose level is relatively low as of yesterday. Undersecretary Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said the bulk of the stranded passengers, nearly 500 persons, were in Tabaco port, on their way to Catanduanes. A later report from the Philippine Coast Guard put the number of stranded passengers at 920. About 30 people in a fishing boat were reported to drifting in the middle of the sea off Catanduanes. Raffy Alejandro, director of the Office of Civil Defense Bicol, said the report they received was that the boat ran out of gasoline. The passengers, on the other hand, are safe. Alejandro said a rescue team cannot head out to sea because it was too dangerous. Yesterday morning, Ambo was spotted off Aurora heading towards Northern Luzon at 13 kilometers per hour. The storm was packing 75 kph winds and gusts of up to 90 kph. As of Saturday afternoon, storm signal 2 was raised over Calayan island and the Batanes group of islands . Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Northern Aurora Isabela, Cagayan and Babuyan island. Ramos said police and military units were standing by for search, rescue and evacuation missions in areas most likely hit with flashflood and landslides. Aldzar Aurelio said the eye of "Ambo" was estimated at 200 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The storm slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds up to 85 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 100 kph. "If it maintains its speed and direction, Ambo is expected to move out of the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday," Aurelio said. Ambo is expected to be at 240 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by this morning. It will be at 350 km northeast of Basco, Batanes by tomorrow morning. Inclement weather brought about by tropical storm Ambo caused the cancellation of 32 domestic flights yesterday morning. According to reports reaching the Ninoy Aquino International Airport's Media Affairs Division, flag carrier Philippine Airlines cancelled flights PR277 and PR278 which is a turnaround flight service between Manila and Legaspi City. Cebu Pacific also cancelled turnaround flight services between Manila and Legaspi City, Manila and Naga City, Manila and Busuanga, and most of its Manila and Caticlan flights. Air Philippines cancelled flight 2P040 which is the return segment from Caticlan to Manila. The management from the three airline companies said all affected passengers will be accommodated on the succeeding flights as soon as the weather in the area improves and flight services resume. (With reports from Chito Chavez, Raymund Antonio and Anjo Perez) ..

S&P says Philippine economy a 'rare bright spot'

..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The economic forecast for many countries these days ranges from shaky to dismal, especially among industrialized countries. Yet, the Philippines and Indonesia stand out as rare examples of emerging Asian economies with positive rating outlooks. According to a report titled "Two Emerging Asian Economies Stand Out With Positive Outlooks Amid Sobering Economic News Elsewhere," just published on RatingsDirect, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said that these two countries were among only 10 in the world that have positive rating outlooks, and none were industrialized economies. Generally, the bond markets are treating the Philippines and Indonesia pretty well. And the cost to insure the two countries' debt using credit default swaps also illustrates the favorable treatment the credit markets are giving the two countries. Meantime, Southeast Asian countries have reaffirmed plans to integrate their economies by 2015, carrying hopes the move will make the region a key growth leader for the global economy. At the end of the three-day World Economic Forum for East Asia held in Bangkok Friday, member-countries of the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) committed to pursue the Asean integration plan as scheduled by 2015. Under the economic integration plan, their financial systems and capital markets will be interconnected, trade will be easier through the elimination of many tariffs, and freer movement of labor across borders will be allowed. In a statement released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Southeast Asian leaders cited the benefits of an integrated region. "Leaders of four Asean countries reaffirmed the 10-member grouping's commitment to form the Asean Economic Community as scheduled in 2015," WEF said in the statement. WEF said Asean members also raised hopes the group would be joined by other Asian countries in the future. The economic integration by 2015 is expected to transform Southeast Asia into a major growth force in Asia and the world, together with China and India. The Philippines is supportive of the region's integration, saying doing so would help accelerate growth of member-economies. The country's economic officials believe the integration will help member-countries pursue the goal of "inclusive" growth. Economists said that while the Philippines and other emerging Asian countries were cited for their respectable growth rates despite problems hounding advanced Western economies, they continued to suffer from growth that was not inclusive. "Inclusive" growth is one that actually translates to poverty reduction and does not benefit only the rich. In the Philippines, poverty incidence remains high even as the economy has consistently grown over the years. With a report from Reuters ..